Category: personal injury Attorney

Many people think auto accidents occur on congested roads and busy highways. You will be surprised to know several auto accidents occur in parking lots. One of the main reasons for parking lot accidents is distraction. Fellow passengers’ behavior, cell phone use and any other electronic device usage are generally the leading causes behind distracted driving. Here are some tips to help you stay alert and avoid a parking lot accident.

Determine the Right of Way

The most effective method of avoiding a parking lot accident is to comprehend who has the right-of-way when driving in a parking lot. Most parking lots – especially indoors lots, have confined spaces, which allows minimal movement. With limited space to work with, it’s natural for a parking lot to get congested. To determine the right-of-way, consider the cars already moving through the thoroughfare as having the way of right, over the cars in the feeder lane. However, exiting the main thoroughfare automatically allocates the right-of-way to the vehicle coming across the feeder lane.

Be Watchful of Dimly Lit Parking Lots

Some indoors and outdoors parking lots have spots that are not well lit. If the driver is not careful, these dimly lit areas within a parking lot can result in accidents. While parking or backing up, be watchful of people, pets and other vehicles. Staying alert and looking around before backing up is key to ensure you and others around you are safe. Children are particularly susceptible to backover auto accidents in parking lots. Drivers have to be cautious by looking out for young children around their vehicle before backing away.

How to Make a Claim in a Parking Lot Auto Accident?

If you are a victim of a parking lot accident, you will need a practiced auto accident attorney to make a claim for compensation for your injuries. In Illinois, the person who violates the right-of-way in a parking lot accident is held liable for the crash. However, if the plaintiff is held partially responsible, under comparative negligence, which resulted in the auto accident, the plaintiff will be required to compensate the defendant.

Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind will help keep parking lots safe and help reduce the number of auto accidents caused by unnecessary distractions.

If you wish to find out more about auto accidents and personal injuries, schedule a free consultation, contact the offices of Robert Edens at (847) 395-2200 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

You know better than to drink and drive. In Illinois and throughout the country, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for an individual to drive a car or other vehicle is 0.08 percent. Beyond this point, the individual can face a charge for driving under the influence (DUI). Alcohol inhibits an individual’s ability to accurately perceive his or her surroundings and make judgments about the safe operation of a vehicle.

But even if you never drive drunk, you can be involved in a collision with a drunk driver. Driving drunk is one of the most dangerous actions a driver can commit, along with using a cell phone while driving and driving when he or she has not had an adequate amount of sleep. If you are injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you can seek monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. Although a personal injury settlement can be a great thing if you need it, it is even better to avoid an accident and needing such a settlement.

Signs of a Drunk Driver

There are a few tell-tale signs of a drunk driver to be aware of. These include:

• Swerving in and out of lanes;
• Driving through stop signs and traffic lights;
• Failing to maintain a consistent speed; and
• Signaling that is inconsistent with his or her actions.

These can also be signs of a distracted driver, a tired driver, or a driver who is under the influence of another type of drug, such as a sleep aid. Regardless of why the driver is showing these signs, he or she is a hazard to him- or herself and others on the road.

If you Spot a Drunk Driver

If you see a car that you suspect is being driven by a drunk driver, report that vehicle to the local authorities. Doing so can potentially prevent a tragic accident.

It is important that you stay as far away from the car as possible. Do not try to pass the car and if you can, get over a lane or two from it. Note the vehicle’s make, model, color, and if possible, its license plate number. Then when it is safe to do so, pull over and call 911 to report the vehicle. If you can, tell the officer the direction the car was traveling, the time you saw it, and your current location so the authorities can better locate the vehicle.

Work with an Experienced Antioch Car Accident Attorney

Drunk drivers put themselves and all others on the road in danger of injury, property damage, and death. If you are injured in an accident with a drunk driver, you could be entitled to receive monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about this process and your rights as a claimant, contact The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C. today to set up your initial legal consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.